What is a CCBHC?

   

What is a Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic?

    A Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC) is a healthcare model designed to provide comprehensive, person-centered mental health and substance use services. 

    CCBHCs offer a range of services, including crisis intervention, mental health care, substance use treatment, and primary care screening, all under one roof. 

    Their goal is to improve access to high-quality behavioral health care by integrating services and coordinating care across different providers and settings. 

    Idaho's Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics 

      As of 2023, a collaborative partnership between Idaho’s federally qualified health centers, IDHW, and Federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) was formed to create Idaho’s first CCBHCs.

      A CCBHC is a specially-designated clinic that provides a comprehensive range of mental health and substance use services.

      CCBHCs serve anyone who walks through the door, regardless of their diagnosis and insurance status.

       

      Pathway to Becoming a CCBHC: Idaho's Timeline

      In 2023 a collaborative partnership between Idaho’s community health centers, IDHW, and the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to develop Idaho’s first CCBHCs. At the forefront of mental health care, Certified Community Behavioral Health Centers (CCBHCs) stand as beacons of hope and transformation. CCBHC's are being established as vital pillars providing a wide range of services tailored to meet the needs of individuals.

      Established under the Excellence in Mental Health and Addiction Act of 2014, CCBHCs embody a revolutionary approach to care delivery. CCBH's must meet key standards in six program areas:  

      Staffing – Staff, training, and services available are based on results of local needs assessment

      Availability and Accessibility of Services – Standards are set for timely and useful access to services, provide outreach and engagement, 24/7 access to crisis services, treatment planning, and accept all patients regardless of ability to pay or place of residence

      Care Coordination – Agreements are in place with other local services, defining accountable treatment team, health information technology, and care transitions

      Quality and Other Reporting – Quality measures are monitored, there is a plan for quality improvement, and the success of other program requirements is tracked

      Organizational Authority and Governance – Patient representation on the Board, and working toward developing and achieving state accreditation

      Scope of Services – There are nine required services focusing on person-centered, family-centered, and recovery-oriented care

         

      And provide an array of nine core behavioral health services:

      •       Crisis Services
      • Treatment Planning
      • Screening, Assessment, Diagnosis & Risk Assessment
      • Outpatient Mental Health & Substance Use Services
      • Targeted Case Management
      • Outpatient Primary Care Screening and Monitoring
      • Community-Based Mental Health Care for Veterans
      • Peer, Family Support & Counselor Services
      • Psychiatric Rehabilitation Services

             

             

      In 2018, grants from SAMHSA have funded clinics in dozens of states to take on the activities and services of a CCBHC. In 2020, the Idaho Behavioral Health Council (IBHC) was established by all three branches of government in collaboration with other stakeholders to improve Idaho’s behavioral health system. One of the priorities identified in the IBHC's Strategic Plan was piloting CCBHCs. In 2022 the Idaho Legislature authorized $6 million in federal funds to support development of CCBHCs.

      In 2023 several Community Health Centers received SAMHSA awards to develop the first CCBHCs in the Idaho. The health centers are partnering with The Idaho Community Health Center Association and IDHW to establish a coordinated and consistent standard of behavioral health care accessible to Idahoans.

      Looking ahead to 2026, efforts will focus on establishing CCBHCs statewide. The ongoing collaboration aims to ensure comprehensive behavioral health care for all Idahoans.

       

      Advancing Behavioral Health Access in Idaho: Statewide CCBHC Implementation and Needs Assessment 

      As part of the statewide planning efforts, over the last year there has been additional attention on how to address the needs of the population through CCBHCs, a model that five of the state’s Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) are pursuing. Implementing the CCBHC model is not simply laying criteria on top of current and expanded services, it is to change the current system to be responsive, outcome driven, and provide an enhanced payment to drive towards a return on investment. The most recent effort includes the Idaho Community Health Center Association (ICHCA) and its clinically integrated network, the Community Health Center Network of Idaho (CHCNI), contracting with Bowling Business Strategies (BBS) to deliver this statewide needs assessment and a CCBHC implementation plan. The information provided in the Idaho Statewide Behavioral Health Needs Assessment will help set the stage and direction for further CCBHC development and implementation. To read the full executive summary and assessment, click below.